2008 NFL Team Needs - NFC

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys - NT, CB, WR
Nose tackle Jason Ferguson is approaching his mid-30s and getting a replacement will be near the top of the Cowboys’ list. The defense was solid most of the season, but depth and age are the main concerns during this off-season. Another area of need due to depth is at cornerback. Terence Newman and Anthony Henry are solid players, but strengthening the position a little more would be a wise move. On the opposite side of the ball, receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn—who suffered a major knee injury this year—are both moving even closer to the ends of their careers. The depth behind the two veterans is questionable, as Patrick Crayton has shown promise and Sam Hurd is serviceable. A receiver will likely be taken with a first day Dallas draft pick in 2008.

New York Giants - LT, LB, DT, WR
New York can upgrade at left tackle over David Diehl, although he did a fair job as the team won the Super Bowl. The Giants may be best served in moving Diehl to an inside position on the line. The draft could be the place that New York looks to find a stud tackle for the future. The line is fairly solid as it is, but a top-notch tackle would make for an overpowering unit. The defense could use an outside linebacker to compliment talented players like Mathias Kiwanuka and Antonio Pierce, and the loss of Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor makes the line position one of significant need. Also on defense, the end position is solid, especially with Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora being two of the league’s best, but better tackles would help the play of the star ends even more. A run-stuffing tackle would greatly further the efforts of the entire defense. Back on the offensive side of the ball, the wide receiver position will be a hot topic after the season. Amani Toomer played well, but it’s tough to say how much he has left in him. Plaxico Burress will need a sidekick to work with shortly, regardless. There’s a sizable talent dip after the top two receivers.

Philadelphia Eagles - DEF, WR
Philadelphia has to address issues all around the defense. Middle linebacker Omar Gaither played fairly, but there is a good amount of room to grow. Another player could come in and be given the chance at the starting role. Gaither will likely have to fight for his job in camp. At defensive end, the position is older, facing injuries, and features overpaid players when you consider their production. Jevon Kearse is gone, but Darren Howard has also been disappointing. Strong safety Sean Considine played in eight games before hitting the injured reserve. Quintin Mikell, Considine’s replacement, has somewhat limited NFL experience. The Eagles have to bring in a strong safety that can make a difference from day one. An athletic player in the draft may be an option. On offense, a receiver with size and play-making ability to aid Kevin Curtis is also needed. Outside of Curtis, the receiving unit has failed to get much done and that’ll have to change if the Eagles want to be a serious contender once again. Bringing in cornerback Asante Samuel gives the team some options, but the work ahead of them will be the difference between success and failure.

Washington Redskins - DL, WR, OL
A defensive end that can apply consistent pressure on an opposing quarterback should be a high priority for the ‘Skins next off-season. Phillip Daniels’ age and the current talent at the position make it a position in need of advancement. The team simply needs better defensive line play all around, so adding a tackle is also a realistic possibility. There has been little to celebrate up front. On offense there was a good deal of depth at wide receiver, but there has been a significant amount of inconsistency and with cuts and free agents leaving the team has to make a move. A young player who can come in and contribute immediately will be targeted in the draft. The offensive line is a strong unit but there is almost no depth and most of the line is over 30 years of age, a fact that cannot be overlooked. Any chance to add useful youth and depth here must be taken.

NFC North

Chicago Bears - QB, OL, WR, FS
There is a good deal of concern in the Windy City. Much of that concern begins on the offensive side of the ball. At quarterback, Rex Grossman went from starter to backup, and then back to starter again, before being injured and knocked out for the rest of the season. Brian Griese was left to run things by season’s end, but early in free agency the Bears re-signed Grossman in hopes that he can turn things around. They may still be looking for additional help there. Tackle Fred Miller and guard Ruben Brown are both nearing the end of their careers, and the line could use some young blood to keep things fresh. Chicago 30th in rushing yards per game because of a line that has failed to open holes and block effectively. Along with the line, the wide receiver group will need help. Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian have both signed elsewhere. Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd have been brought in, but more talent will be needed. And although he has had some big performances, Devin Hester may not develop into a consistent receiving option. The defense has also failed to live up to expectations, but injuries haven’t helped. A free safety could be a nice addition given that just five teams allowed more passing yards per game.

Detroit Lions - LB, CB, RB, OG
The Lions’ linebackers are solid, but a player with a nose for the ball will help all around. The middle may be the top area lacking, but the outside can use help as well. The departure of Boss Bailey just adds to the need. The cornerback position in Detroit was consistently a problem this season. Fernando Bryant and Stanley Wilson failed to hold up, and the defense was 31st in passing yards allowed. Opponent’s receivers were able to get open at will, and if the team wants to truly be a contender, the place to start is in coverage. An early draft pick will be spent here and the addition of Brian Kelly helps a good deal. There’s a little more work to be done, though. On the other side of the ball, Detroit proved to be the second worst rushing team in the NFL if you’re looking at yards per game. Part of the problem is the need for a quality guard—a clear draft day hole—and the need for a running back that can stay healthy and gain tough yards. Tatum Bell was re-signed to try and earn the starting job, but look for the Lions to try and add another rusher to the mix in hopes of striking gold.

Green Bay Packers - CB, OLB, QB
Al Harris and Charles Woodson are both over 30 years of age and have lost a step or two at cornerback. Their play was solid once again this season, but the question is how much longer can they keep it going. The Packers may wait until deeper in the draft to pick up a project. Adding depth and talent at outside linebacker would be another strategic move and would provide more help for A.J. Hawk, who played brilliantly during his second season. Finally, the Packers know that they will be without quarterback Brett Favre for the first time in a long time. The job is Aaron Rodgers’ to lose, but the team will look for a backup.

Minnesota Vikings - DB, OL, DT
The offensive line could be beefed up on the right side at both tackle and guard as Anthony Herrera and Ryan Cook are not overly impressive, yet the need may not be as significant as it was heading into last season. Minnesota had the top rushing attack in the league because of Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, and the play of the offensive line opening holes and allowing the backs to use their vision and athleticism. Based on contracts and talent, safety depth as insurance is another need that will be looked into. Madieu Williams will help in that role. Also, the cornerback position needs help. The defense was 20th in yards allowed per game, and the secondary was a big reason for it. Finally, defensive tackle Pat Williams is 35, meaning that the Vikes may also want to think about who might replace him. The need isn’t extreme yet, but it’d be a good idea to address it as soon as the opportunity arises.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons - QB, OL, MLB, DT
Since losing Michael Vick, the Falcons tried Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and Chris Redman at quarterback. The revolving door situation was partly due to injury, but mainly due to ineffectiveness. Atlanta’s top priority in the off-season is acquiring a quarterback that can win. Redman and Harrington will return, but the team has to have another possibility in mind. The protection for whoever that starting quarterback is will need to be improved over the current group. Both tackle spots and the guard position are shaky. Tackle Wayne Gandy was put on injured reserve this past season season and he’ll be thirty-seven during his next season. The line could look significantly different when the 2008 season starts. The offense was 23rd in total yards and only three teams scored fewer points per game. Fixing the line will go a long way in helping those numbers. There are also a couple of needs on defense. Age concerns factor into Atlanta’s need to add talent on the defensive line at the tackle spot, as Grady Jackson was also placed on injured reserve and he’s on the downhill of his career. At linebacker, Keith Brooking may not be the answer in the middle. He played well at times, but there’s room for improvement, and the Falcons may look to find his eventual replacement.

Carolina Panthers - QB, S, OT
Jake Delhomme was lost to injury for most of last season, which all but destroyed the Panthers chances of being successful. And while he will return this coming season, the franchise must still look to find a quarterback of the future to develop under Delhomme’s tutelage. The David Carr signing failed to pan out; the team was 26th in points scored, 29th in total yards, and 29th in passing yards. Play from the safety spot hasn’t been terribly bad by any means for Carolina. However, Chris Harris and Deke Cooper don’t seem to instill a lot of confidence in Panthers fans for the long-term. Potential upgrades for the position will be considered. The offensive tackle spot can also be upgraded, as injuries and consistency issues have raised some flags. At least one tackle should be added to strengthen the position. There’s talent here and Jordan Gross has wisely been franchised, but depth will be strongly sought.

New Orleans Saints - DT, S, LB
The current defensive tackles did not provide quite enough push in the middle and the ends became less effective because of it. Brian Young played decently at times, but the team will hope to have better starters heading into next season. The secondary is the place where the most improvement can likely be made. The Saints were 30th in passing yards allowed, and they were unable to make big plays when needed them most. Free agent signing Jason David was especially disappointing and was a regular target of opposing passing attacks. Cornerback Randall Gay was signed to help this area, but another move should be on the horizon to help out at the safety spot. At linebacker, Mark Simoneau will return and Dan Morgan will also join the fray. The unit may still need depth, but is in better shape already.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LT, QB, WR, DL
The Buccaneers were in the middle of the pack in most offensive statistic categories, but if they want to be more of a threat next season, they’ll need to look for help at left tackle. Luke Petitgout has battled injuries in recent seasons, and he was placed on injured reserve in 2007. The position lacks depth, and with Petitgout’s injury history and age, the tackle spot has to be addressed. At quarterback, Jeff Garcia doesn’t have many seasons left and the talent behind him is mediocre, so Tampa will have to find new blood here. Bruce Gradkowski is probably not the solution for the future. Joey Galloway has been the only sure thing at receiver in recent seasons and he’s nearing the end of his career. There is some youth at the position, but nowhere near top quality talent. Recent draft picks may be counted on to play a larger role in the offense, but there doesn’t seem to be a reliable source of offense outside of Galloway. Tampa Bay also needs to add depth and youth to the defensive line in preparation for future seasons, but the strong play of the unit this season means that it has dropped down the priority list slightly.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals - LT, DE, DB
The Cardinals struggled to protect their quarterbacks once again in ‘07, and one of the most significant issues was at left tackle. Mike Gandy was asked to replace Leonard Davis, who went to Dallas in free agency prior to the ’07 season, and Gandy isn’t the long-term fix. The team was once again near the bottom in rushing yards per game, and the quarterback has to be afforded more time to throw. The defense needs a pass-rushing end that can take over games and consistently apply pressure. Opposing teams have had too much time to sit back and pass. Joe Tafoya is a temporary fix, and the team needs some fresh blood at the position. The secondary is another area that has to be worked on. Safety Terrence Holt isn’t enough of a playmaker to hold the position for very long, while cornerback Eric Green has also failed to make some much needed plays. The lack of consistency means that both could be relegated to the bench come next season.

St. Louis Rams - S, LB, DE, WR
Much of the needs of the Rams are on the defensive side of the ball. Statistically, the defense ranked near the middle in most categories, but only one team allowed more points per game. One area the team can look for help to try and change that is at safety. Oshiomogho Atogwe seems to miss plays or be in the wrong place too often, and the position lacks overall depth. Also, the linebacker unit needs at least one more legitimate starting option, or at the very least, provide quality depth. Extra defensive end support is another spot to consider when the Rams sit down to make personnel decisions. The position hasn’t produced, especially once Leonard Little was lost for the season with a toe injury. On offense, St. Louis will want to find receiving options for quarterback Marc Bulger to throw to. Isaac Bruce was released and then signed by San Francisco, while Torry Holt is over 30. Drew Bennett’s a nice talent himself, but the Rams will need another receiver to ensure that the position doesn’t suffer any kind of drop-off.

San Francisco 49ers - DL, LB, OL
The 49ers ranked 22nd in rushing yards allowed per game, and much of the reason stems from the lack of push from the defensive line. At tackle, Aubrayo Franklin is not the answer the team is looking for. A massive athlete in the middle would be a welcome addition. Bringing in end Justin Smith as a free agent is a step in the right direction. Starting four linebackers can be a forceful attack—if those linebackers know their roles and can cover a lot of ground quickly. The 49ers have two or three of those linebackers in place, but they’ll need to add one or two more to really have the ability to do more of what they want. Dontarrious Thomas will add linebacker help, but depth will still be of use. San Francisco was also last in the entire NFL in points offensively. The offensive line may also have a new face or two for the purpose of depth, development, and preparation for the eventual retirement of guard Larry Allen. The team was 27th in rushing yards per game, even though running back Frank Gore was coming off of a stellar season. The line will need to be altered to help Gore return to top form.

Seattle Seahawks - TE, OT
With Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett having been signed to alleviate running back concerns, the team will move their attention to other positions. The tight end will be up for grabs between Will Heller, who showed some flashes of being a solid player at the position, and free agent signing Jeb Putzier. There’s a possibility that another player is added to that mix as well. The offense will also need another tackle to prepare to take over for Walter Jones and add depth. Protection for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been solid, but there is the chance that the Seahawks want to prioritize working on bolstering the line even further. Adding guard Mike Wahle is a nice move, but there is still the possibility of trying to improve.